Mental Health Matters! It’s Okay To Not Be Okay! 🤕

Mental health isn’t just a buzzword; it’s as important as physical health. High time we give it the attention it deserves and break the stigma around it…

Health comes in all forms - physical, emotional, financial, intellectual and mental. These parameters measure our overall well-being. If you keep chasing one of them and ignore others, you will face the repercussions.

What is mental health?

Everybody talks about it these days but do we know what it means? Is it all in our head, or how the chemicals in our body make us feel?

Mental health includes psychological well-being, emotional well-being, and social well-being. Think of it as your health status based on how you feel, in your head, about something. It is essential because it affects your response to things, and your response to stimuli determines your relationships and reality.

Why is it important to talk about it?

We all are vulnerable to circumstances that affect our mental health. Sometimes we feel lonely, and sometimes we feel like shutting ourselves in our room forever. Some days we may not want to get out of bed, and some nights we may not get enough sleep. These are all a few indicators of something not being right.

We all need to talk, vent and express our mental state to feel general well-being. Bottled-up emotions and pent-up frustrations can have a disastrous effect on our health. To prevent such outbursts, it is vital to reach out to experts and have conversations on mental health. For all we know, it could save someone's life.

How prevalent is the mental health disorder?

In India, it affects more than 14% of the population. Recognising and treating mental health disorders late can be long and tedious; the treatment can stretch to years of counselling and medications.

Mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, suicidal tendencies, and many more can result in loss of productivity, socialising, and life. It is a serious issue that has a lasting impact on society, the economy, and the nation. It requires equally drastic measures to control it. Read our blog where we debunk five common myths about mental health.

What is the impact of untreated mental health disorders?

Why is everyone talking about mental health? Because of the impact it has. Depression is a leading cause of death in the country. It affects over 15% of the population and kills over 100,000 adults yearly.

The thing about untreated mental health disorders is that it eats away the individual while inflicting pain and misery on their loved ones. The emotional damage caused by suicide due to depression is uncountable, and it is something that needs to be addressed immediately.

Mental health disorders also affect the economy. Studies have shown loss of productivity costs the economy over $1 trillion every year, and the number is predicted to rise to $6 trillion in 2030.

People with mental health issues have reduced productivity, less motivation to work, and lowered immunity to diseases. It is because our physical health can significantly affect our mental health.

If you know anyone suffering from anxiety, depression, or stress-related issues, it is advisable to get them proper help. It can be addressed by measures such as counselling, medication, and other behaviour-related treatments. Plenty of free resources available online and offline can make a big difference to any individual finding themselves in uncomfortable situations.

List of Mental Health Helplines:

1. NIMHANS: Call: 080-46110007

2. Peak Mind: Call: 080-47092334

3. Sumaitri: Call: 011-23389090, 09315767849

4. Mpower 1 on 1: Call: 1800-1208-20050

5. Sneha: Call: 044-24640050, 044-24640060

One of the reasons that people shy away from mental health treatment is that it can get expensive. Fortunately, Kenko plans cover mental, dental, and health-related expenses with monthly subscriptions starting at Rs. 299/month.